Rocking devices for children



1966 o. R. c. JENSEN RQCKING DEVICES FOR CHILDREN Filed Feb. 10, 1964 INVENTOR OLGA R. C. JENSEN BY ATTORNEY United States Patent i r 3,227,445 ROCKING DEVICES FOR CHILDREN Olga R. C. Jensen, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (1460 Van Horne Ave, Outremont, Quebec, Canada) Filed Feb, 10, 1964, Ser. No. 343,847 r r 3 Claims. (Cl. 1272-56) sitting, kneeling, standing, as well as permitting several children to simultaneously use the rocker.

Another object of the invention in conformance with that set forth is to provide a novel rocker including hand grip means readily accessible to the child or children using the device.

A still further object provide a novel rocker in which brace means are provided against which a child can brace his or her feet while rocking. i

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel rocker of the character set forth in which the center of gravity of the rocker will generally prevent the rocker from tipping over at its ends.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel rocker which requires a minimum of physical coordination to operate, and in which one or more children of different weights and sizes can independently or simultaneously use the device.

And a still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel rocker which is simple in construction, easily used, and practical and satisfactory for the. purpose intended.

These together with other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description, taken in conjunction with the drawings ing a part thereof, wherein,

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the novel rocker with a portion broken away for purposes of clarity; and

FIGURES 2-5 are similar side elevational views showing the versatile character of the invention by illustrating the-different ways the rocker. can be used, FIGURE 4 having a portion broken away to show howthe feet can be braced, and FIGURE 2 showing one of the children in phantom line to illustrate that a single child can assume the positions shown without the other child being present.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and first considering form- FIGURE 1, the novel rocker is indicated generally at 10 and comprises a crescent-shaped body member 12; when observed in side elevation, and the body member can be constructed of any suitable material, i.e., wood, plastic, aluminum, etc.

The body member 12 includes a pair of crescent-shaped rockers 14 and 16 engaging a support surface at their lower edges, and being relatively higher at thecenter than the ends to concentrate the weight or center of gravity at the central portion of the rocker to prevent tipping over at the ends. The lower edges of therockers may have rubber or plastitc strips, if desired.

The rockers 14 and 16 are retained in parallel relation. by a transverse, longitudinally arcuate bottom 18 which may be suitably secured at opposites edges in opposed grooves 20 and 22 formed on the inner'surfaces of the respective rockers 14 and 16. The rockers have extending transversely therethrough and adjacent the ends of the rocker arcuate hand grip portions 24 and 26. Intermediately of the rockers and extending laterally from of the present invention is to ICC upper edge portions of the rockers are handle rail members 28 and 30.

Secured between the rockers and overlying the bottom 18 is a foot brace 32; see FIGURE 4, and suitable reinforcing braces 34 can be provided between the rockers in engagement with the undersurface of the bottom 18.

Secured transversely between the ends of the rockers are bumpers 36 which form a socket 38 at each opposite end of the rocker, and which prevent tipping over at the ends as rocking occurs. The sockets 38 receive the lower ends of handles 40 which have a round cross-section and a transverse slot 42 therebeneath. The bumpers 36 may have threadedly secured therein at 44 Wing bolts which adjustably retain the handles in an adjusted position within the sockets 38.

OPERATION In each of the uses illustrated, a single child may assume the position shown without the other child being present. The child may lie down in the central portion and grasp the rail members 28 and 30 or he may reach back and grasp handle 40. With the changes of position, i.e., from a standing to sitting to lying position, the attitude of rocking is changed since the center of gravity is shifted. Further, adjustment of the handles 40 will also permit changing of the center of gravity; however, the shift of the center of gravity will not be such to permit the device to tip over at its end when rocking occurs.

Not only may the device be used in an infinite number of Ways, but children of all ages and sizes, as well as adults or teenagers can participate in exercising with the device.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the objects of the invention may be attained through the use of constructions differing in certain respects from that disclosed and described in detail,

and thus, the invention is not limited to what is shown and described but only as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A rocker device for exercising in a plurality of positions including sitting, lying or substantially standing, comprising an elongated body member, said body member including a pair of opposed crescent-shaped rockers having a relatively high central position with respect to the ends thereof for concentrating the center of gravity centrally of said rockers, a bottom member extending transversely between said rockers and maintaining said rockers in parallel relation, a brace element overlying said bottom and extending transversely between said rockers, arcuate rail elements extending laterally from upper edge portions of said rockers and providing hand grips for the user of the device, said rockers including hand grip slots extending transversely therethrough and adjacent each end of said rockers.

2. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said rockers include bumpers extending transversely of lower surface portions thereof adjacent end portions thereof and bumpers include means engaging said handles and adjustably retaining said handles in said sockets.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 246,458 8/ 1881 Chandler 27256 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. A ROCKER DEVICE FOR EXERCISING IN A PLURALITY OF POSITIONS INCLUDING SITTING, LYING OR SUBSTANTIALLY STANDING, COMPRISING AN ELONGATED BODY MEMBER, SAID BODY MEMBER INCLUDING A PAIR OF OPPOSED CRESCENT-SHAPED ROCKERS HAVING A RELATIVELY HIGH CENTRAL POSITION WITH RESPECT TO THE ENDS THEREOF FOR CONCENTRATING THE CENTER OF GRAVITY CENTRALLY OF SAID ROCKERS, A BOTTOM MEMBER EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY BETWEEN SAID ROCKERS AND MAINTAINING SAID ROCKERS IN PARALLEL RELATION, A BRACE ELEMENT OVERLYING SAID BOTTOM EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY BETWEEN SAID ROCKERS, ARCU- 